Record-breaking 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon: 16,148 people finished the run
A record attendance, fast running, and thousands of spectators along the route. 16,148 runners completed the 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon, setting a new event record. The fastest runners were Kenyans Derrick Chege Njoroge and Valentine Jebet Benedek.
The battle for victory
From the very first kilometers, the competition for victory in the 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon promised to be thrilling. The leading runners stayed together for a long time, and the final outcome was decided by the last few kilometers and the pace at the finish.
In the end, Derrick Chege Njoroge proved to be the fastest, completing the course in 01:02:41. Second place went to Mykola Mevsha from Ukraine (01:02:50), while Kenyan Hillary Kiptum Maiyo Kimaiyo took the lowest step on the podium (01:03:07).
In the women’s competition, Valentine Jebet Benedek won with a time of 01:09:44. The Kenyan runner’s result set a new women’s record for the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon. The winner’s compatriots rounded out the podium. Hilda Jelagat Kiptum took second place (01:09:54), and Jecinta Mwende Kamau came in third (01:12:30).
Polish runners were also well-represented among the leaders. The top Polish finishers were Mateusz Kaczor (01:03:13) and Angelika Olobry (01:14:08), who placed fourth in the overall men’s and women’s standings, respectively.
Representatives from 75 countries competed in this year’s edition. A total of 10,658 men and 5,576 women took to the course, and among the participants were 5,440 residents of Kraków.
Results of the 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon
Men’s Overall Standings
1. Derrick Chege Njoroge 01:02:41
2. Mykola Mevsha 01:02:50
3. Hillary Kiptum Maiyo Kimaiyo 01:03:07
Women’s Overall Standings
1. Valentine Jebet Benedek 01:09:44
2. Hilda Jelagat Kiptum 01:09:54
3. Jecinta Mwende Kamau 01:12:30
Fastest Polish Runner Classification
1. Mateusz Kaczor 01:03:13 (4th place in the men’s overall classification)
2. Mateusz Mrówka 01:05:00 (5th place in the men’s overall classification)
3. Adam Czerwiński 01:06:35 (6th place in the men’s overall standings)
Fastest Polish Woman Classification
1. Angelika Olobry 01:14:08 (4th place in the women’s overall standings)
2. Monika Olejarz 01:16:17 (5th place in the women’s overall standings)
3. Paulina Gaj 01:18:22 (6th place in the women’s overall standings)
Detailed results of the 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon are available on the Data Sport website.
A record that obligates
This year’s edition went down in history as the largest running event in Kraków. A total of 16,148 people crossed the finish line, breaking the previous attendance record. The growing interest in the event confirms the Kraków's Half Marathon’s status as one of the most important running events in Poland.
Kraków cheered on the runners
The 12th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon is much more than just a sporting competition. Participants were greeted along the entire route – not just at the officially organised cheering stations – by loud cheers and applause from the city’s residents. The closer they got to the finish line, the more intense the excitement became. At the finish line, located at TAURON Arena Kraków, a special celebration awaited the runners, making everyone who crossed the finish line feel like a winner.
– Today’s event showed that our running events attract a wide audience. Once again, residents turned out in large numbers to cheer on and encourage the participants in this sporting competition. The beauty of running in Kraków is not just the chance to admire the city from a different perspective; it is also an opportunity to experience how the residents create the atmosphere and spirit of this place – emphasizes Tomasz Marzec, Director of the Sports Infrastructure Management Board of Kraków, the organiser of the run.
Photo: Tomasz Markowski, Michał Bacior, Grzegorz Maciąg